Glamorous gala event in aid of Tanzanian children

There was a fundraising gala at Killruddery recently, to raise money for the charity Their Lives Matter.

Windgates native Dr Trish Scanlan and her team are doing amazing work in Tanzania providing life saving cancer treatment for children in Tanzania.

Supporters enjoyed the elegant surrounds of Killruddery for an autumn ball to help that cause.

Paediatric oncologist Dr Scanlan has been working in Tanzania since 2006. She has battled breast cancer twice so has an understanding of what her young patients are facing.

The mission of TLM is to treat every child with cancer free of charge. Dr Scanlan started in a tiny shed-like ward with one local medical colleague and five nurses. Less than 100 new children attended in 2005 and no more than 10 per cent of these survived long term. In 2017 more than 600 children attended and long term survival rates approach 50 per cent.

Dr Scanlan divides her time training young doctors and nurses, fundraising and treating the children. The charity relies heavily on fundraising, as all services are provided free.

PHOTOS BY BARBARA FLYNN Carolyn Roe, Karen McCullagh, Sharon Roe, Fiona Quill, Richael Keogh and Sinead McGuinness at the ‘Their Lives Matter’ fundraising dinner at Kilruddery House.

Donal Scanlon, Colm Kelly, James Noonan and Stephen Hawkins.

Ashley MacGowan, Tanya McGuinness, Gillian Fox, Caroline Leonard and Fiona Smith.

Mary Ann Thornton, Jane McPhillips and Gillian Cooney.

Mick Scanlon and Karen Moore.

Cormac Breathnach and Carmel Breathnach.

Mary Cole and Des Doherty.

Andrea Malone and Stephen Hawkins.